6 Duels won, 2 Tackles: £54.5m Man United star hit woodwork twice in 2–0 win on int'L duty

Manchester United star Matheus Cunha and Casemiro helped Brazil record a 2-0 victory over Senegal in an international friendly game at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Cunha supported Vinicius Junior in leading the attack in a 4-2-2-2 formation.

The 26-year-old was highly influential in the starting phase of the game and should have scored at least one goal, but he proved to be unlucky.

He first came close when Estevao mishit a volley and the rebound fell kindly to Bruno Guimaraes, who slipped Cunha through on the edge of the box.

He placed a low effort to the goalkeeper’s left, who looked clearly beaten but his effort agonisingly cannoned off the post.

Cunha got another glorious opportunity to put Brazil ahead in the 17th minute. Guimaraes floated a cross perfectly to Cunha, only to watch his header crash against the crossbar for the second time in the evening.

He should have done better to guide his header past the shot-stopper. The £54.5 million-rated star won six of his nine duels and made two tackles.

Cunha has operated in multiple roles in the United shirt, impressing with his tenacity and high work-rate. However, he has scored only one goal in ten games.

His standout performances against Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion were turning points in United’s recent resurgence. United head coach Ruben Amorim would want Cunha to be more clinical and creative in the final third.

With Benjamin Sesko sidelined due to a knee injury, Cunha may be tasked with leading the line as a central number nine, supported by Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount operating just behind him.

Cunha must develop the poacher’s instinct to truly do justice to that role.

Stats from Fotmob.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .